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The Skye Trail
A challenging backpacking route from Rubha Hunish to Broadford
The Skye Trail
A challenging backpacking route from Rubha Hunish to Broadford
This guidebook describes The Skye Trail, a challenging week-long trek across the largest island in Scotland's Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Skye. From Rubha Hunish in the north, the Skye Trail heads along the Trotternish Ridge and past the Cuillin to Broadford in the south. Suitable for experienced backpackers and mountain walkers.Discover the rugged beauty, dramatic ridges, and wild landscapes of the Skye Trail, an 80-mile (128 km) north-to-south trek across the Isle of Skye. Starting at Rubha Hunish and finishing at Broadford, the route threads past the Trotternish Ridge, the Quiraing and Old Man of Storr, crosses Glen Sligachan between the Black Cuillin and the Red Hills, enters the dramatic Cuillin mountains, and passes the abandoned village of Boreraig.
Ideal for experienced mountain walkers, this unofficial, week-long trek can be completed with wild camping each night or using overnight accommodation along the way. This guidebook provides all the practical support you need to plan and enjoy the walk, from route overview to expert advice on navigating Skye’s remote terrain.
- Seven daily stages covering the full Skye Trail from Rubha Hunish to Broadford, including coastal paths, mountain ridges, and remote glens
- Step-by-step route descriptions supported by detailed 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps, elevation profiles, and downloadable GPX files for GPS and smartphone navigation
- Each stage includes distance, estimated walking time, terrain summary, and difficulty level, helping walkers plan daily sections and manage hillier terrain
- Optional summit route via Bla Bheinn, one of Skye’s most spectacular Munros, offering high-level views for walkers seeking a memorable mountain day
- Highlights and landmarks along the trail, including the Trotternish Ridge, Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, Black Cuillin, and the abandoned village of Boreraig
- Information on accommodation, wild camping, refreshment points, public transport, plus geology, history, wildlife, and a glossary of Gaelic place names
Plan your Skye Trail adventure with confidence and experience the remote wilderness, dramatic mountains, and unforgettable vistas of one of Scotland’s most challenging and rewarding long-distance walks with this definitive guidebook.
Author Highlight
“The Isle of Skye holds a special place in many people's hearts. Its romantic history, majestic mountains, stunning coastline and the Gaelic language and culture all draw people back time and time again. Many rush around the best-known sights of the island in a few days, but for those who wish to experience Skye properly, there can be few better ways than by tackling a long-distance walk.”
- Helen and Paul Webster, authors of The Skye Trail
Printed book
A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps - everything you need on the trail.
ISBN
9781786311863
Availability
Published
Published
28 Nov 2023
Edition
Third
Pages
112
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x .60cm
Weight
130g
eBook
The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.
Map key
Overview map
INTRODUCTION
Early history
The MacDonalds and the MacLeods
Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald
The Highland Clearances
The crofters’ struggle
Skye today
The Cuillin pioneers
Geology
Wildlife and plants
Culture, music and language
Preparation and planning
When to go
Travel
Money and communications
Accommodation
What to take
Navigation and maps
Access
Weather
Midges and ticks
Safety and emergencies
Using this guide
THE SKYE TRAIL
Stage 1 Rubha Hunish to Flodigarry
Stage 2 Flodigarry to the Storr
Stage 3 Storr to Portree via the coastline
Stage 4 Portree to Sligachan
Stage 5 Sligachan to Elgol
Stage 6 Elgol to Torrin
Stage 6B Blà Bheinn alpine variant – Camasunary to Torrin
Stage 7 Torrin to Broadford
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Accommodation
Appendix C Useful contacts
Appendix D Glossary of Gaelic words
Appendix E Further reading
Seasons
Spring and summer are likely to be the best months for walking on Skye, with early May being popular to avoid the midges; longer daylight hours also make it possible to cover large distances.
Centres
Begins at Rubha Hunish at the northern end of Skye; passes through the island capital - Portree - after three days; finishes at the large village of Broadford.
Difficulty
A week-long route for experienced backpackers; self-reliance, fitness and good navigational skills will all be called upon.
Must See
The stunning headland at Rubha Hunish, the Trotternish Ridge, the spectacular rock scenery of the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr, picturesque Portree, walking in the shadow of the mighty Cuillin, the abandoned village of Boreraig.
November 2024
Torrin Bunkhouse
Torrin Bunkhouse (page 89) – no longer needs to be booked 3 weeks in advance (still has to be booked in advance) but now only accepts bookings for at least 2 nights.
November 2024
Dun Flodigarry Hostel
Dun Flodigarry Hostel at Flodigarry at the end of Stage 1 has now closed permanently and no longer offers accommodation or camping. There is a hotel at Flodigarry as well as nearby B&Bs
August 2024
Updates
P52 Camping is no longer permitted at Dun Flodigarry Hostel
P81 The position of the MBA bothy marked on the map at Camusunary has changed; a new bothy is now located directly on the Skye Trail just where the route turns east near the water at Camusunary Bay.
P89 Mrs Mack's Takeaway – seasonal food truck usually parked on the Skye Trail just before Torrin (check Facebook for opening times www.facebook.com/MrsMacksFarmShop)
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